POLICE BLOTTER: Prosecco, Melon, Grapes, Cake—Then A DWI Arrest

MONTVALE, N.J.—While conducting an enforcement detail on Magnolia and Kinderamack recently, an officer observed a red Acura bearing New Jersey registration fail to maintain lane traveling south on Kinderamack.

The officer positioned his patrol vehicle closer to the Acura and observed the vehicle swerve several times over the double yellow painted traffic lines. 

The driver made a left turn onto Pascack Road. The officer activated his emergency lights and conducted a motor vehicle stop in front of Pascack Road. 

“I made a passenger side approach of the vehicle and observed [the driver’s] eyes were bloodshot and watery, his face was flushed red, he was mumbling his words, and he was fumbling for his paperwork,” the report reads.

At the back of the car, the officer smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath and asked if he’d been drinking. The defendant said he’d had one glass of wine.

After radioing for a backup unit, the officer asked the defendant to tell him the time without looking at his watch. The defendant guessed 1:30 a.m. but it was 11:40 p.m.

When backup arrived officers arrived they administered three field sobriety tests, which the defendant failed.

Officers placed the defendant under arrest for DWI, double locking the cuffs for his safety, and placed him in a patrol car. Officer’s gave the defendant’s wife a curiosity transport back to her residence and stayed with the vehicle until Brookside Towing arrived for a John’s Law impound.

At headquarters the defendant gave two breath samples which indicated that he had a .08% BAC. 

The defendant stated he’d been at a friend’s house in New City, N.Y. and had one glass of Prosecco at around 9 p.m. and stopped drinking at 10:30 p.m. He stated the last food he ate was watermelon, grapes, and cake at around 11.

He was released to his brother-in-law at 2 a.m.

He received four summonses and was given a date at Pascack Joint Municipal Court.